California is poised to funnel corporate income taxes into school facility improvements designed to save money on energy and promote cleaner energy options, under guidelines approved Thursday by the California Energy Commission.

Public school districts, charter schools and other local education agencies will begin applying early next year for some of the $464 million set aside for the under the California Clean Energy Jobs Act.

The new funding guidelines are the outcome of Proposition 39, approved by California voters in November 2012, that required multistate businesses to pay income taxes based on a percentage of their sales in California. Proponents said the initiative closed an unfair tax loophole.

For five years, about half of those tax proceeds -- up to $550 million annually -- are being devoted to school building efficiency and clean energy projects, such as solar installations.

The largest chunk of funding, $381 million next year, is reserved for local education agencies: school districts, charter schools, state special schools and offices of education. Over time, savings on future energy bills should exceed the initial capital investments.

Starting in January, applicants will be able to download an application, handbook, training sessions and webinars to guide schools through the application process, agency spokesman Adam Gottlieb said.

The success of applications will depend in part on their potential for reducing energy demands and the estimated financial return over the life of a project.

Community college districts will receive $47 million for their own efficiency and clean-energy projects, and the Energy Commission will receive $28 million to fund revolving loans for energy projects.

Smaller earmarks include funding of job training in the clean energy field for disadvantaged youths, veteran and others.

Separately, the California Conservation Corps will get $5 million from the current budget to perform energy surveys and other energy conservation activities.